A MEMBER of staff at Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) is retiring - after 39 years of service.

Tom Dougall started his career at SDC on February 1 1982 as an engineer in the Technical Services Team.

He is know as ‘Mr Car Parks’.

At a full council meeting on Thursday, January 28, he was personally thanked by the chairman of the council, Cllr Peter Clayton.

“Tom has been an exceptionally diligent, hard-working member of staff working across a number of services in his time at Sedgemoor and will depart as a highly respect Transportation Officer,” he said.

“Obviously in different times, we would be planning a more traditional send off and thank you for his time; contribution and wise counsel.

"But we thank him for his dedication and long service and wish him a long and happy retirement.”